Palais Longchamp

The palace and park at Longchamp were constructed over a 30 year period during the mid 19th century, celebrating the construction of the Marseille Canal. That's a little tidbit of information you can use to impress any friends you may be traveling with. The most notable feature of this park, aside from the beautiful but aging structure (which, by the way, houses the city's art and natural history museums as well as an observatory), is its distinct tranquility and beauty, highlighted by lush gardens, fountains and waterfalls that provide calming respite during a day of exploration in Marseille. If you're in the neighborhood, it's definitely worth spending a little time checking out.